Page 101

Story: Savage Grace

I didn’t miss the way his eyes regarded Livie with suspicion, just like she was doing to him.

“Have you heard from Ashe?” I asked.

Both men shook their heads. “I assumed he was with you,” Prince said.

I nodded, eyes dropping to the floor.

“I think my family is in danger. And I think Ashe is too.”

Both men stiffened, sharing a look of something like dread.

Freddie spun on his heel, pulling his phone out of his back pocket and quickly putting it to his ear. Prince gestured with his head towards what I now knew was the meeting room, or‘church’, and I grabbed onto Livie’s hand and dragged her along with me. Freddie followed behind, speaking in hushed tones and closing the door behind us.

“What do you know?” Prince asked, pulling out a chair for each of us.

I sat, but Livie refused, lingering by the door instead.

“I woke up this morning and everyone was gone. My sister called. Her husband is my brother’s right hand.”

“Ren?”

My head ticked to the side.

“We’re well educated on the ranks of your family, Zar.”

I nodded, because of course they were.

“Well, Ren didn’t come home last night. No one is answering their phones. No one has even seen them since last night.”

Prince ran a hand down his face.

“Shit.”

“No one’s seen Henny either, Prez,” Freddie said finally, pocketing his phone.

Prince shook his head, leaning forward and steepling his fingers together. After a few silent moments in his head, his eyes flickered to me.

“What do you need from us?”

I lifted my bag and put it on the table with a heavy thump, rifling through it to find the folded piece of paper with the address on it before handing it to Prince.

“I think that it was The EA. Theo must’ve been suspicious after yesterday and I think they panicked and just picked them all up before we could retaliate. We think they’re holding them here,” I pointed to the third option on the list.

Freddie stepped forward, using a single finger to open my handbag a little wider.

“Jesus Christ, Zarina,” he sighed as he snooped through my things.

“What?” I snapped.

He tipped the bag over, causing the guns, knives, and stray bullets to roll across the table.

“Look, I didn’t know if they had you guys as well, okay? There was a possibility that it was just me.”

“And what were you fucking planning?” Freddie scolded, picking up the kitchen knife and tossing it between his hands. “Run in, swinging this around like a fucking lunatic?”

“Kind of. Yes.” I leaned back in my chair, folding my arms.

He dropped the knife back onto the table, turning away from me and putting his head in his hands. “Fuck me dead,” he whispered to himself in agitation.